Fall Challenge III: THE HOUSE CUP

EARNED RUNS “HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE” EXPLAINED; BACK TO SCHOOL!
Now that, according to traditional academic year calendars, SUMMER is over and days in the classroom have begun for many, you might think Earned Runs Challenges will end.  Not exactly.  There will be 3 Earned Runs supported opportunities to improve fitness now that September has begun. 

Officially, Turkey Trot race training has been labeled FALL CHALLENGE I, for those who like to get back into a formal program in preparation for an event.  However, not everyone will be excited about working toward participating in a goal race in late autumn. 
 
An alternative was recently introduced, the Earned Runs FALL CHALLENGE II: SEASON LIST.
Rather than checking off a “bucket list” of experiences that may require a lifetime to accomplish, a season’s worth of fitness goals might be identified, listed, and completed over the next several months. Before the excitement of the holidays kicks begins, from mid- September to the end of November, for example. A previous blog post explained this challenge more fully.
 
For those who think back fondly, remembering the fun of SCHOOL DAYS, another alternative to race training is a personal, customizable, health/fitness improvement competition, FALL CHALLENGE III: THE HOUSE CUP. It was introduced in Fall 2017, and is being offered again in 2018. The idea comes from the fictional Harry Potter book series.
 
At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry found friends and joined the magical community, the HOUSE CUP was an award presented to one of the four student houses at the finish of the academic year.  Members of Gryffindore, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin all competed for this trophy.  It was won by earning the most total points, which were added and subtracted over the months that school was in session, in reward or punishment for the good performances or misdeeds, respectively, of its members.
 
“While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose points.  At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour.”  Professor Minerva McGonagall thus explained the point system.
 
Earned Runs will help you create a custom HOUSE CUP competition, to provide an incentive to adopt some needed health and fitness habits. Each day of the challenge you will win or lose points, according to predetermined rules, set with the purpose of improving health and fitness habits. 
 
HOUSE CUP MATERIALS, one set for each participant or team:
1) Point tokens or coins (Hogwart's used precious gems; Earned Runs uses dimes)
2) Two containers; one or both should be clear to make changes in levels easily visible
3) Set of House Rules, including days the competition will run, when rules are in effect.
4) Point Tally Chart, assigning number to be awarded or subtracted each day
5) Honesty & Commitment
 
Instructions:
Containers: decorate the clear container, make it look appealing.
 
Points Tokens: Place all the tokens in the starter container.  Add tokens to the HOUSE CUP container as you complete tasks to which points were assigned.  To start the competition each participant/team must accrue sufficient tokens to have enough to subtract as the days go by. Move tokens back FROM the HOUSE CUP container to the starter container if you need to SUBTRACT points.  Participants/teams entering into ‘negative’ token territory will be forced to drop out of the competition.
 
House Rules: Identify a time period over which you will be holding the competition. You might wish to add a few extra days or so to allow for unexpected issues that may temporarily prevent participation, especially if there is a specific goal to be reached (see the Earned Runs example).  Calculate approximately how many total tokens and tokens per day or week you will need to add to the Cup to achieve your goal.  Check that the number of daily/weekly points to be won is reasonable, even if there are occasional subtractions.

With a team event the groups merely need to win points; the one with the most tokens on the last day of the Challenge can be designated the winner. An individual may strive to accumulate a specific number of tokens by the end date to identify themselves as winning.

Points list: Assign positive (+) points to habits or activities to be encouraged; negative for those to be avoided.  Greater value should be assigned according to the importance of adopting (+) or eliminating (-) the activity. Check out the Earned Runs system and make changes if you decide to borrow the basic rules.

With a team event the groups merely need to win points; the one with the most tokens on the last day of the Challenge can be designated the winner. An individual may strive to accumulate a specific number of tokens by the end date to identify themselves as winning.
 
The points list can be longer, including enough activities that every single one doesn’t need to be performed each day to earn all the required points. Or it can be shorter, listing only the essential good health and fitness habits hoped to be established during the challenge period, such that your daily task is to complete all items.
 
The HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE was an experiment for me last year.  I was a bit nervous about starting something so different and the possibility of failing.  Being able to VISUALIZE my progress, or lack of it, was a daunting prospect. I didn’t do as well as anticipated by the end date.    The method required some adjustment.
 
However, I DID establish some of the hoped-for good habits in 2017! The challenge worked for me, at least in part, and I‘ll try to add to that success in 2018.
 
If this type of competition appeals to you attempt to customize a personal, “back-to-school” HOUSE CUP CHALLENGE for yourself, or for family or a group (work, friends). It might be much more fun competing against others, like the student houses at Hogwart’s.
 
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Benjamin Franklin is attributed with saying. Let’s venture!
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!

Earned Runs example:
2018house_cup_challenge_points_and_rules_my_personal_challenge_with_tally_chart.pdf

Weekly tally sheet- one page
2018_house_cup_daily_tally_one_week.pdf

COMMENT'S ARE WELCOME!
 
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/House_Cup

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